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More than 70 journalists from 22 Commonwealth countries gathered in Bangladesh on Monday to discuss widespread violence against reporters around the world and especially in this Southeast Asian nation. Last year saw 67 journalists killed in the line of duty, according to the International Federation of Journalists. Scores more were beaten up or jailed.
Conditions have been particularly bad for the press in Bangladesh. Two journalists have been killed, and many more attacked and thrown in jail, in the last two years. Murray Burt, president of the London-based Commonwealth Journalists' Association - which is organizing the meeting of reporters in Dhaka - said Bangladesh has some of "the roughest journalistic conditions" of the Commonwealth's 54 nations.
The Commonwealth Nations is a grouping of former British colonies.
Journalists in Commonwealth countries have suffered "deaths, beatings, torture and cavalier authority," Burt said, adding that only 20 Commonwealth nations have a free press.
The five-day meeting is the first such gathering in Bangladesh. Prime Minister Khaleda Zia is scheduled to open the meeting and her main rival and predecessor, Sheikh Hasina, is expected to close the talks.
Supporters of both women have been accused of targeting journalists in past years.
"We have invited the two leaders
hoping they will perhaps learn something," said Burt, adding that he hoped
their participation would "help raise their sensitivities to the need of
a free press."
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